Falkland Islands

Introduction to Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic continental shelf consisting of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and a number of smaller islands. The Falkland Islands are located at 51°45′00″S, 059°10′00″W. The Falkland Islands are a largely self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom but are claimed by Argentina to be part of its national territory. Stanley is the capital and largest city, on East Falkland.

The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands has been disputed since their discovery, with France, Spain, Argentina and the United Kingdom all claiming possession after establishing settlements on the islands. The French and Spanish claims have long been abandoned, but Argentina maintains a claim over the islands, which they call Islas Malvinas, and other territories in the South Atlantic currently under British dominion. The sovereignty dispute was the source of the 1982 Falklands War, in which the islands were invaded and briefly occupied by Argentina. The United Kingdom dispatched a task force to the Islands and, after a month long war, the Argentine Forces surrendered and the Islands returned to British control. The sovereignty of the islands remains disputed, but the islanders themselves wish to remain British.

The islands are 300 miles (483 km) from the South American mainland. There are two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland and about 700 small islands. The total land area is 12,173 km², approximately the same area as Connecticut or Northern Ireland, and a coastline estimated at 1,288 km.

Much of the land is part of the two main islands separated by the Falkland Sound: East Falkland, home to the capital of Stanley and the majority of the population, and West Falkland. Both islands have mountain ranges, rising to 705 m at Mount Usborne on East Falkland. There are also some boggy plains, most notably Lafonia, the southern half of East Falkland. Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep.